The Home of Australian Craft Beer

One of the liveliest beer festivals of the summer returns to the Geelong Racecourse in February.

The Great Australian Beer Festival (or GABF) runs for the fifth time on February 18, 2017, with more than 5,000 people expected through the gates to sample more than 200 beers and ciders.

For the first time, these will include beers from overseas as the organisers are introducing an international beer hall. It's one of a number of new features for 2017, which also include a VIP area and an invitation for members of the public to take part in the annual brewers' keg rolling competition.

While beer tasting and appreciation is at the heart of the festival, there's also another busy lineup of music and entertainment, with three stages featuring the likes of The Potbelleez and Richard Clapton.

Describing the festival as "an experience designed to stimulate more than just tastebuds” festival director Michael Ward says: “There’s interactive seminars, live music across three stages, beer cabaret, carnival DJs food trucks, heaps of BBQs – it’s just a great social event, a real celebration."

You can check the lineup of confirmed brewing companies and cider producers here.

Crafty Cabal Specials

If you're a member of our beer lovers bonus scheme, The Crafty Cabal, then you could be off to GABF 2017 for free. We've got four tickets up for grabs for members – just head to your member's area to register.

If you're not a member yet, then now's the time to join if you're in Victoria. We've lined up three Entry & Token packs for the first three new signups after January 11, 2017, with a VIC postcode.

If you'd like to get your hands on one of these packs – worth just shy of $80 and including 20 tasting tokens as well as admission – head here to sign up before they've gone. You'll then have 12 months to enjoy all the other benefits being a member offers too.

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The Crafty Pint is an independent online magazine and resource for anyone interested in craft beer in Australia. We bring an honest, old-fashioned journalistic approach to beer's brave new world, telling stories because they're worth telling not because someone is paying us to write them.

Like many of the people who have changed the face of beer in Australia, we believe in authenticity, integrity, enjoyment and love. We hope to play a role in helping good beer, brewed by good people, find its way into the hands of more drinkers.